Photographer Coreen Simpson's illustrious career capturing Toni Morrison and Muhammad Ali: 'I've never gotten bored'

The article discusses the life and work of Coreen Simpson, a photographer known for her intimate and compassionate portraits of people from various backgrounds. Born in 1946, Simpson grew up in Harlem and began her career as a union contractor before turning to photography. Her passion project, "Black Cameo," which features jewelry that reflects the beauty and diversity of African American culture, has become successful enough to supplement her income when she is not taking photos.

Simpson's portraits capture the heart and soul of those she photographs, from street people in Harlem to iconic figures like Muhammad Ali and Jean-Michel Basquiat. She credits her success to being in the right place at the right time, as well as her determination and never-say-no attitude.

The article also highlights Simpson's perseverance as a single mother taking care of two young children while pursuing her passion for photography. When asked about her advice for aspiring photographers, she says, "Go with the blood beats," or do what excites you.

Key points from the article include:

* Coreen Simpson is a photographer known for her intimate and compassionate portraits of people.
* She grew up in Harlem and began her career as a union contractor before turning to photography.
* Her passion project, "Black Cameo," features jewelry that reflects the beauty and diversity of African American culture.
* Simpson's portraits capture the heart and soul of those she photographs.
* She credits her success to being in the right place at the right time and her determination.
* Simpson is a single mother who pursued her passion for photography despite the challenges.

Overall, the article presents a inspiring portrait of Coreen Simpson as a photographer and entrepreneur who has followed her passions and never given up on her dreams.

I mean, I'm not sure if all this fuss over Coreen Simpson's jewelry project is really necessary . Don't get me wrong, she's got an amazing story to tell and those portraits are definitely iconic . But is it just a marketing ploy to sell some accessories? I need to see more substance behind the sparkle . And can we talk about how many influencers have "discovered" her work recently? It's like, hello, this lady's been doing this for years!

omg this woman is literally an inspiration coreen simpson's story is so relatable i mean being in the right place at the right time is def not something you can plan for but it's awesome that she made the most of it as a single mom too, i can only imagine how tough it must've been to balance work and family life while chasing her dreams but she did it! and her "black cameo" project is such a dope way to showcase african american culture go with the blood beats, indeed - who needs any more advice than that

OMG u gotta check out this woman Coreen Simpson's work ! She's literally a rockstar behind the lens, capturing the most beautiful souls in the world and still managing to raise two kiddos as a single mom ! I mean, I'm all about chasing my passions too, but she takes it to a whole new level . That "Black Cameo" jewelry project is everything and more - I need to get me some of that ASAP . The thing that really gets me though is her attitude: never say no to an opportunity and go with the blood beats (I'm totally stealing that as my own motto ). She's living proof that if you follow your heart, great things can happen . Coreen Simpson is literally a superhero in glasses ‍!

Coreen Simpson's story is so inspiring ! I love how she turned her passion for photography into something that not only brings in income but also showcases the beauty of African American culture . Being a single mom taking care of two little ones while pursuing her dreams is truly admirable . Her "blood beats" advice to aspiring photographers is so true - do what excites you! It's great to see someone who has never given up on their dreams and has achieved success through hard work and determination . Simpson's story is a reminder that age doesn't matter, talent does ! Can we get more stories like this?

I'm loving this story about Coreen Simpson! As someone who's been following her work, it's amazing to see how she's stayed true to herself and her vision, even when life got crazy as a single mom juggling two tiny humans . Her approach to photography is so relatable - just follow your heart and you'll be golden . I mean, who wouldn't want to capture the beauty in people from all walks of life? It's like she's spreading love and acceptance one frame at a time . And can we talk about her "Black Cameo" project? Genius! Who needs traditional jewelry when you can rep African American culture through art? It's a beautiful celebration of identity and community

omg, i'm literally so inspired by coreen simpson!!! she's living proof that if you're passionate about something, u can make it happen no matter what i love how she turned a passion project into a successful business - that's the kind of grind i wanna see more of! and wow, taking pics for muhammad ali and jean-michel basquiat is like, a dream come true for any photographer i'm also loving her advice to "go with the blood beats" it's like, so simple yet so powerful she's an amazing role model for aspiring photographers everywhere

OMG I'm totally obsessed with Coreen Simpson's work right now!!! She's like a total inspiration to me, you know? I mean, she went from being a union contractor to taking pics of people and making jewelry that reflects their culture - it's like, whoa! And the fact that she did all that while being a single mom is just... *sigh* ...I'm totally in awe of her determination and never-say-no attitude. I need to pick up my camera more often and start chasing my own passions like Coreen did. Go with the blood beats, right?

I'm totally stoked about Corey Simpson's story! She's proof that you can turn your passion into a career, no matter what. Did you know that 70% of photographers struggle to make ends meet? But Corey didn't let that stop her. She started out as a union contractor and worked her way up to becoming a successful photographer.

Her "Black Cameo" project is giving me LIFE! It's amazing how something like jewelry can be used to celebrate diversity and culture. The stats are wild, though - 85% of people who see Corey's portraits report feeling seen and represented for the first time in their lives.

And let's talk about her business skills - Corey is a single mom who's killing it as an entrepreneur! She's proof that with determination and hard work, you can turn your passion into a successful business. I'm totally inspired by her story and can't wait to see what she does next.

Wow ! I mean, have you seen some of her portraits? They're like, so raw and emotional. She's got this gift for capturing people's true selves, you know? And her story is just, wow... a single mom pursuing her passion? That's just incredible . Go with the blood beats, indeed! I love that attitude . It's inspiring to see someone who's done so well and yet still chooses to keep creating. The world needs more people like Coreen Simpson .

I gotta say, this woman's story is super inspiring... but, like, some facts are kinda wonky . She grew up in Harlem, right? But then she's also mentioned as having started out as a union contractor before photography? Like, what? That just doesn't add up to me. And isn't she from the Bronx or something? Anyway, I guess that's beside the point... her passion project "Black Cameo" is fire and her portraits are so heartwarming . The thing is, as a single mom of two, it's impressive she had the energy and drive to pursue photography, but some sources say she was more into union work first? Still, I love that she's out there doing her thang , even if the facts are a little fuzzy.

OMG you guys! I just read about this amazing woman Coreen Simpson and I'm like WOW! She's been through so much but still manages to capture the hearts of everyone she takes a photo of. As a single mom, she must've had some crazy moments taking pics with 2 tiny humans running around, but she just goes with it and makes it work . And let me tell you, her jewelry project "Black Cameo" is giving me LIFE! Who knew photography could be so much fun? Go for the blood beats indeed!

you know what i think is so cool about coreen simpson's story? she didn't let anything hold her back from chasing her dreams , even when she was juggling being a single mom with pursuing her passion for photography . that's the kind of determination and resilience we can all learn from . it just goes to show that with hard work and dedication, we can turn our passions into careers and make a real impact on the world . and i love how she puts it - "go with the blood beats" - it's like, do what makes you excited and passionate about life, and the rest will follow . anyway, her work is definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it yet...

I mean, Corey Simpson's story is really inspiring... or so it seems . A union contractor turned photographer, how original . I'm sure her "never-say-no" attitude had nothing to do with the fact that she was a single mom trying to make ends meet . But hey, who needs stability when you can chase your dreams, right? . And what's really admirable is that she somehow managed to balance raising two young kids while pursuing her passion for photography... yeah, because that's totally something we've all tried and failed at . But in all seriousness, Corey Simpson's success is a great reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible... unless you're from Brooklyn .

OMG, I'm so inspired by Corey Simpson's story ! It's amazing how she turned her passion into a career and still managed to balance being a single mom . Her photography is so intimate and compassionate, it just makes you feel like you're getting to know the person on a deeper level . And I love that she credits her success to being in the right place at the right time - sometimes those serendipitous moments can make all the difference . It's also super inspiring that she never says no to opportunities and is always chasing her dreams . Can't wait to see more of her work and learn from her experience

I'm low-key obsessed with this woman Corey Simpson she's got this incredible energy about her and I think it's so inspiring to see how she balanced being a single mom and pursuing her passion for photography. Like, what would we even do without women who are unapologetically themselves? I mean, the fact that she went from being a union contractor to becoming a successful photographer is just mind-blowing - she's proof that with hard work and determination, anything is possible .